About the webinar
The International Trade Center (ITC), a United Nations agency co-run by the World Trade Organization, hosted the webinar with the United States Fashion Industry Association.
The global apparel sourcing landscape is undergoing unprecedented transformation. Rising tariffs, evolving U.S. trade policies, geopolitical uncertainty, and new sustainability and compliance requirements are reshaping how U.S. fashion companies source their products and manage global supply chains. For suppliers, manufacturers, and sourcing partners, understanding these changing priorities has never been more important.
This webinar highlights key trade policy issues facing U.S. fashion companies as of mid-September 2026 and fashion companies’ latest sourcing trends, based on findings from the 2026 Fashion Industry Benchmarking Study, the annual survey conducted by the United States Fashion Industry Association (USFIA) and the University of Delaware. Leveraging official U.S. trade statistics and additional product-level analysis, speakers also compared the competitiveness of mature apparel suppliers (e.g., China and Vietnam) with emerging sourcing destinations (e.g., Guatemala, Sri Lanka, Egypt, and Jordan) and discussed the implications of the current business environment for apparel exporters serving the U.S. market.
Speakers
- Matthias Knappe, Head of Fibres, Textiles and Clothing Unit at the International Trade Centre
- Julia Hughes, President, United States Fashion Industry Association
- Sheng Lu, Professor and Graduate Director, Fashion and Apparel Studies, University of Delaware
- Emilie Delaye, Graduate Instructor, Fashion and Apparel Studies, University of Delaware
Explore additional resources from the Global Textile Academy, run by the International Trade Centre.
FASH455 Global Apparel & Textile Trade and Sourcing 